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ro THE PEOPU: OF THE rNITEJ) S1V\TE?^. 



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'i'iie |i(,iliijc;il a>pfri <A' llic couuirv lills the jjublio mind N\iili 
[lainful apprelvensioii. The pe<>ple are every whei'e disturbed w itK 
the fear of some disastrous crisis. Many are alarmed fur t}ie >nU-- 
TA' of tlie Union. All are eouscious that the sentiment of tratt-r- 
nitv ^\'hieh once linked the States together, even more firmly 
than the compact of the Constitution itself, has been rudely) 
shaken, and that discord lias crept into the relationship of com - 
mnnities which shoiihl have fuund, both in the interests of the 
present and in the memories of the past, the strongest motives for 
mutual regard and e« )ntidence. 

Wihat has produce<l these general and unhappy convictions ? 

1 1 has been too ajiparent to escape the most casual observation 
that, lor some years ])ast, there has been manifested a design, in the 
movements of influential political leaders, to force the country into 
an organization of parties foundi^d on the question of slavery. 

The first introdmjtion of thi'^ su})ject into party politics en- 
gendered a controversy which has constanth' increased in ex- 
t«'nt and bitterness, mingling with, or usurping the place of all 
other j)olitical quest i<^ns, and giving to those party politics a great- 
er and more dangerous vehemence. Considerations of the public- 
welfare seem to be cast aside, to make room for wider and moio 
unrestrained contention on this single and engrossing theme. 

The two great ])afties in the (.-ountry (the Democratic and / 

Kepublican) have been the chief actors in this fatal contest, if \ 

not its aiithors. Whether they have always exerted them- 
selves to allay the excitement to which it gave rise, or, cm the 
C(-)ntrary, have both of them occasionally employed it for tht- 
jtromotion of party ])urposes, it is not for us to determine. It 
is sidhcient to n<jte that the inind of the people has been in- 
dustriously exercised by this contest to the service of sectional 
agitation, and that in its progress the teachings of the fathers 
o[' the republic, tl>p lights of history, the landmarks ofconsti- 



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lutional power have Vjceii rerioiinoed. our old rind revered iradi- 
tions of policy spurned, and tlie welfare of tlie present and the 
hopes of the future been brought into jeopardy in the alterna- 
tions of passionate challenge and defiance between the angrv 
disputants. 

It is not our purpose to arraign or t<> dtmounce either ofthe.se 
parties for their past errors <>r transgressions. l)nt wt* regard it as 
an indisjmtable fact that by their conflicts they have been mainly 
instrumental in producing the present lamentable state of public; 
affairs. It would be easy ti> establish this position by a reference to 
t^vents in the recent history of the country, with which the ]>ub- 
lie is but too tamiliar: but we purposely abstain from all coni- 
inents upon them, as inconsistent with the limits of this address, 
und as tending to revive controversies which it is its object U> 
allay. We will simply state, that the one, by its frequent and un- 
necessary intrusion of the slavery question into party politics, 
lias exa-sperated sectional feeling at tlie North and increased the 
i^rowiug spirit of disunion at the South, while the <.)tlier has been 
prompt to avail itself of these opportunities for anti-slaverv agi- 
tation. 

After liaving su long agitated the country by their reciprocal 
assaults, these parties are now preparing for a sectional struggle 
fjtr exceeding in -snolence any that has yet occiirreil, the re- 
sults of which may be disastrous to the country. 

As an indication of the character of tliis struggle, of its objects 
and possible consequences, we need only jjoint to the signilicaut 
fact, that a convention has been called by one of these }>arties 
to select a candidate for the office of Chief Magistrate of the 
Union from which, by the necessary Ljgic oi^ its construction, fif- 
teen States of that Union are ext.-luded. 

Solenmly im]iressed with these facts, a number of gentlemen 
from different parts of the country, among whom were members 
of the present Congress, and of Congi-esses of former date, recent- 
ly assembled in the City of Washington to deliberate on means 
loi- averting dangers to which they may lead. 

It was the unanimous opinion of tlie' meeting, that im.mediaie 
Ble{»s should be taken to organize a '' Constitutional Union ]>arty," 
pledged to su})port "the Union, the Coiistitutirin and the enforce- 
ment of the laws." 

This organization was accc^nliagly commenced l)y the ap]joint- 
ment of a "Central Executive Committee" charged with tlu; gen- 
eral direction of the ]>arty and with tW ]>re])arationof an address, 
lo the people of the United States. 

We need not assure you, fellow citizentj, that w« approach this 



task with diffidence and auxiety. We are aware of the difficulty 
which attends the endeavor, at any time, to persuade, men to 
abandon political associations to which they are allied, either by 
interest or preference, and we know how much that difficulty is 
increased when party attachment is heightened by the ardor of 
expected success or inflamed by the zeal of opposition. But 
there are, nevertheless, junctures when honest-hearted citizens 
will be prepared, at any sacrifice of prejudice or opinion, to per- 
form this duty to their country. It is the policy of the domin- 
ant parties to underrate the real strength of those whom disap- 
probation, indifference, or disgust force into the position of 
neutrals in political warfare. The ordinary tactics of parties 
teach them to discourage those whom they cannot enlist. But 
the fact is demonstrable that the numbers who occupy this posi- 
tion at all times, and more especially at the present time, consti- 
tute a most influential portion of the whole people. If the inves- 
tigation could be made, there is reason to believe it would result 
in disclosing the fact that, as parties are now constituted, little 
less than a million of voters will be driven out of the sphere of 
active participation in the coming election. The old Whig 
strength of the country will be found to furnish no small con- 
tribution to this mass. Even those of that association who 
have been induced to take sides in recent elections with one or 
the other of the opponent divisions, acknowledge but scant 
fealty to their new leaders ; and the greater number of them will, 
it is believed, be prompt to join their old comrades in rallying 
to a conservative field to fight a new battle for the cause of the 
Constitution and the restoration of lost harmony. Large num- 
bers of the old Democratic party, who withdrew from the 
line of march when they discovered it leading ^owards in- 
ternal strife, and the assault of the traditional policy by which 
that party achieved its former triumphs, would, we have no doubt, 
supply a powerful reinforcement to the friends of the Union. 

In the American party, to which the breaking up of old orgau- 
nizations gave birth, and which has been active in the endeav(ir 
to establish an intermediate power between the contending 
forces that have engrossed the field, will be found a very large ele- 
ment of conservative strength to increase the volume of the pro- 
posed organization. 

If we add to all these that mass of quiet, unobtrusive citizens, 
who have always shunned the turmoil of political life, content to 
leave the destiny of the countrj^ in the hands of thos« who, iu 
the ordinary condition of the national progress, were most ambi- 
tious to assume its direction, and who have reposed such faith in 
the patriotism of their fellow men as to feel no concern in the 



question of the supremacy of party, but whom the extraordi- 
jiurv incentives of a crisis like the present must awaken to the 
resolve of an effort to protect the tlireatened safety of the coii- 
federacv. we have elements sufficient. >y their combiiiatiou. tc 
form a grent party, to which additional strength will he im|>artc.| 
In- the e:talted jJatriotism of its ])rinciples and objects. More- 
over, it is oidy just to the two contending ])arties to say, that we do 
not despair of finding in the ranks <>f each, numerous individuals 
NS'ho, tired of intestine strife, and alarmed at the threatening as- 
pect of affuirs, will unite with the only ])urty wiiii-h holds out to 
the eouutry a pros))ect of repose. 

Can it be possible that, with so glorious a cause before us, an 
appeal to the ]»atriotism <>f the land founded on such induce- 
ments as the present exigency supplies, can fall upon unheeding 
t;;irs. or f:iil to rouse the national heart to the great emprise of 
rhis coiumanding duty? Now, wlien every honest and thought- 
ful <ntizen within the broad confines of this Union, every true 
soTi of the re[)ublic at home and every brother of our lineage 
abroad, is tilhMl with dismay at the sudden rupture of the na- 
tioTud concord, can it be that the jiower which is able to pour oil 
upon the troubled waters, and bring gladness back to every goo<l 
man's fireside, will withhold its han«l from the labor? that this 
generation of American citizens, awakened T>y the clauK^r that 
tiireatens the integrity of our Union, and conscious of its taoulty 
lo command the cTuling of mad debate, and to re-establish the 
louudations of ;t henlthful, just, and benignant administration of 
The duties and benetits of the Constitution. Avill ]>lay the ."slug- 
gard in this- momentous hour, Jind incur the everlasting shame of 
passivelv looking on upon the demolitit)n of this fabric ol' con- 
tederated States? that this generation will }>rove itself sc> fal>.- 
to all generations to come as to permit, when it has the power to 
forbid^ the destruction of this glorious heritage of so many mil- 
lions of freemen, with such immort:d memories clustering arouml 
the |>:itli of tiieir history, with such grand ho})es hovering over 
llie can-ei- l^efore them, the eenli-al pt)int of so many blessings, 
the subject of >o nianv ]u-iiyers o\' the enlightened hnnuiuily of 
the wlioh^, world ? 

L<!t all men I'dleri ii])on the iiieredibl.- folly of our tpiarrel. 

The countrv is wrought into a teni{>est of excitement. Two 
gre.'it ])oliticai armies are contending for nuistery. Both :ue in 
furiated with a r;ige that threatens fciirful extremes. The greai 
rn;iss of faw-abiding citizens ar(> l(K)king on with amazement, and 
an ominous apj)rehensiou of mischief. And yet there is no dau- 
^jcr impending over the Kei»ublic which human passions have 
not created, and which hunum wisdom may not prevent. 

\\\' liiive pointed ont the chief source of the present agitation. 



uud think we have sufficiently shown that neither ui' the two 
parties who are now seeking to obtain the control of the Govcdi- 
Hient can be safely entrusted with the management of public al- 
lairs. The onh' way to rescue the country from their hands is 
to organize a party whose cardinal principle shall be ; — To remove 
the subject of slavery from the arena of party ])olitics, and leave 
it to the independent control of the States in whicli it exists, and 
to the unbiased action of the judiciary ; 

To remove all obstacles from the due and faithful cxe-cutioii <.t' 
rhe pro\isions for the rendition of fugitive slaves ; 

To cultivate and expand the resources of the country by such 
protection to every useful pursuit and interest as is compatible 
with the general welfare and equitable to all ; 

To maintain jieace, as far as possible, and lionoraMe relations 
to all nations : 

To guard and ent'orce tlie supremacy of the laws by an impar- 
tial and strict administration oi' the powers granted l>y the Con- 
stitution ; 

To respect the rights and reverence the Union of the IStato a> 
the vital source of present peace and prosperity, and the surest 
guarantee of future power and happiness ; 

To teach reconciliation, fraternity and forbearance, as the great 
national charities by which the Union is ever to be preserved, a> 
a fountain of perennial blessings to the people. 

Let these principles be taken to the hearts of those who pledgy 
themselves to the support of the party, and let them actuate- tlieir 
private life as well as their public duty. 

To promote this movement, measures should be adopted witb 
as little delay as possible, such as will afford an opportunity to 
the party to ' exert a controlling influence on the approaching 
election, and to select candidates upon whom its vote nuiy be 
effectively concentrated. 

To this end we proi)ose that a Convention lie immediately held 
m each State, which shall assume the duty of embodying the 
Avhole conservative strength of each in such form as siiall make 
it most effective : 

That each of these Conventions shall nuike a nomination of two 
candidates for the ['residency, (omitting to nominate a A ice ['res- 
ident,) to be selected from those most eminent and approved in 
]>ublic esteem, one of which candidates, at least, shall be a citi- 
zen of some other State than that in which he i- nominated : 

That these two candidates from each State shall be sul)- 
mitted to the consideration of a General Convention, to be as- 
sembled ;at Baltimore, at a time that shall be designated by 
the I^ational Executive Committee, which General Convention 
shall l»e empowered to select from the whole number of the no- 



iiiiiiatioiir^ tran&mittcd to it, a eaiididate t'«>i- Pie>iuent and Viei' 
I*I•e^,ident. as tlie candidate^ of the Constitutional (nion ]>arty : 

That this Goneral Convention shall consist of a representation 
iV.iiii i-aeh State, eunipose*! "I' tin- same nunibei' of ^\eTnbel•^ a> 
its repi'e-entatioii in the two huusst-^ of Conp•e^> : 

That thi.^ representation of each State be chosen either bv the 
State convention itself, or in r^iich other manner a^ .such Conven- 
tion, in view <>f the .-hortnes> of the time for the ]»roceediiiir. 
may apjioint. 

A Convention con.-tituted in accortiance with thib plan, we 
think, would l»e sati^-factorv to all parts of the country, and al- 
toprether competent to the duty of a discreet and judicious selec- 
tion of candidates. The people M'ho ha\e so much reason, in 
their habitual experience of the insuihciency <if Convention.>, 
to feel no little distrust of these bodit-s. miirht prefer some other 
mode of nuniination. il' a better could now be adopted. But in 
the ]>resent emergency, when delay wouhl render any attempt to 
make a nomination for the connng election useless, we are per- 
suaded they will accjuiesce in the plan proposed, as the best the 
time will allow. Such a Convention will aovid some of the 
objections to which the ordinary and accustomed compo&itioJi 
of Conventions i> ex[»osed. Jt will be contiried to the single 
duty of selecting the candidates from a Tuunbei- of eminent 
citizens ])rtsented by the several States as worthy of the tirst 
otHce in the Government; and it will, most probably, tind in the 
concurring opinion of several State Couventiout^ in favor of one 
or more individuals, a useful guide to the most acce] "table nomi- 
nation. And as it will l)e restricted in its choice to the nanie- 
ju'esented. it will under no circumstance? otfend the [lublic wij«h 
b}' selecting candidates unknown to, >>]• unrespected by th»- 
country. 

Whether any other principles than those Ave have enumerated, 
shall be enunciated, it will be for the Convention to determin.-. 
•• Platforms'' have been so frequently employed as the shallow 
ilevices of party deception, that they have cotne to be viewed 
with distrust by the people. AVe know of no higher and nobler 
aim than the restoration of peace and harmony to a divided and 
distracted country, and no platform more acceptable to every 
true patriot than the ''the Union, the Constitution, and the eii- 
I'orcement of the laws." 

Fellow-citizens, the task that has been alloitetl to us is per- 
formed. We have pointed out a path by which, in our opinion, 
the country may be rescued from its perilous position. It is lor 
you to determine whether you ^\^ll pursue that path, or continue 
in one which, howcvei- the a)"»proaching struggle may terminate. 



S^wi;'7i'''''^^' "•*' tu peace: to u brief cessation oi 
^trite, but not to a restoration of liarmonv. 

Washington, February 22, 1860. 

WILLIAM C. RIVES, Va ' 
WASHINGTON HUNT N Y 
WILLIAM A. aRAHAM, k b 
HENRY M. FULLER, Pa. * " 
JOHN P. KENNEDY, MA 
FIENRY Y. ORANSTON, R ] 
ALEXANDER R. BOTELER, \; 
-lOHN A. ROCKWELL. C\ 
.JOHN WHEELER. Yt 
.1. MORRISON HARRIS. MV| 
LEWIS CONDICT, N .1 

(VHARLES M. CONRAd'. La 
MARSHALL P. WILDER, M;,s. 

JOSHUA HILL, (h,., 

JOSEPH N. SNYDER, 01. i... 
WILLIAM TEMPLE, Del 

-lOHN DUNHAM, Conn 

JOHN A. OILMER. \ C 

C. C. LATHROP. J>a 

R. AY. THOMPSON, in.l 

X. W. SHELLEY, Ala 

(iEORGE BRIGGS, N Y 

A\MLLIAM G. BROWN] i)W T^Min 

WILLIAM L. TOOLE, \o^^-i, 

JOHN AYILSON, III, 

Ji':RE CLEMENS, Tenn. 

F. J. WIirTLOCK,'N. Y.. 

Coram ttt.rr. 

I'RANCIS GRANGER, 

Chairman National Wl,;,, l-:xpcvtiv<' i'mr, 
JACOB BROOME, ■ 

Chairman Nat. American Executive Cum. 



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